Richmond army set to roar in Adelaide

THE Coast's loyal Richmond Football Club supporters tried to book plane tickets to Adelaide even before the final siren rang out in the nail-biting match against Sydney last Saturday.

YELLOW AND BLACK BRIGADE: Richmond Football Club supporters happy to see their team make the finals are (front from left) Sarah, 7, and Jack Donovan, 5, from Deloraine and Molly, 5, and Lucy Weare, 3, from Hadspen, (back from left) Wayne and Emilie Donovan, from Deloraine, and Chris and Clare Weare, from Hadspen. Picture: Stuart Wilson.

YELLOW AND BLACK BRIGADE: Richmond Football Club supporters happy to see their team make the finals are (front from left) Sarah, 7, and Jack Donovan, 5, from Deloraine and Molly, 5, and Lucy Weare, 3, from Hadspen, (back from left) Wayne and Emilie Donovan, from Deloraine, and Chris and Clare Weare, from Hadspen. Picture: Stuart Wilson.

THE Coast's loyal Richmond Football Club supporters tried to book plane tickets to Adelaide even before the final siren rang out in the nail-biting match against Sydney last Saturday.

Deloraine's Wayne Donovan, president of the North-West Tasmania Tigers Supporters Club, said quite a few of the 200 club members were off to Adelaide for the elimination match and were booking flights as the Sydney match played out.

Expect to witness a sea of yellow and black wash over the Adelaide Oval for the vital clash against Port Power as an estimated 6000 to 10,000 Tigers supporters turn up and hope for the "Richmond resurrection" to continue.

It is part of a long-suffering Tigers fan's DNA to expect things to go pearshaped - but not this time, Mr Donovan said.

Tigers fans used to being bitterly disappointed in the past are far from that place of suffering right now.

"We're in happy times," Mr Donovan said.

Tasmanian-born Tiger star Jack Riewoldt and diehard Richmond supporter media personality Mick Molloy both said that last Saturday's win was up there as the best day of their lives.

The Donovan family - Emilie is North-West Tasmania Tigers Supporters Club secretary - describe it as a delirious feeling.

"Some of our members are nearly jumping out of their skin with excitement," Mr Donovan said.

"There's nothing I enjoy more than being in a room with Richmond supporters and especially when we're winning we're a passionate bunch."

Tigers fans have dared to dream that 34 years since their last flag this might be their year.

"It's always a rollercoaster ride but now we're playing finals again and all that is forgotten," Mr Donovan said.

"Ever since the middle of the season Richmond has been playing elimination finals and we feel we can keep doing it.

"We beat Port Adelaide last time in Melbourne and we beat Adelaide over there only a few weeks ago.

"Other teams want our injury list so we've got a fairly good chance."

Mr Donovan has been a Richmond fan since the 1980 premiership against Collingwood.

The Coast has a strong connection to the Tigers, with several players coming from the region.